Accession Number

983.266b

Description

A sepia-toned photograph of a young woman (Laura Miller Surles, also known as Mrs. James Dunsmuir) standing and facing left, her costume a dark long-sleeved jacket with a white blouse collar over the top and a matching long skirt with ruffled hemline and in the fashion of a gathered over-skirt that fits over a bustle, her dark curly hair pinned up in a braid with bangs, her body leaning on a high-backed upholstered chair, her left hand holding a light-coloured fan.

Narrative

This photograph of Laura Miller Surles (1858-1937) (known as Mrs. James Dunsmuir) is undated, but based on the costume design and her facial appearance, it appears to have been taken in about 1882, making her about 24 years of age.

This photograph and its silver frame have been in the Craigdarroch Castle Collection since about 1969. The person depicted was believed to be Jessie Sophia Dunsmuir until that attribution was challenged by the late Dunsmuir biographer, June Kern. She correctly recognized that the photograph depicted Laura Dunsmuir.

History of Use

This photograph was taken in about 1882 and used by Laura and James Dunsmuir at their Departure Bay residence until 1889, at Fairview until 1891, at Burleith until 1906, at Government House until 1909, and at Hatley Park until 1937. The donor, the late James Guy Payne Audain was their grandson. He used it at his Victoria residence until donating it to The Castle Society in 1960¹. 

1. The Daily Colonist, July 29, 1960 p.19. 

Date

1882

Dimensions

18.2 x 12.3 cm

Medium

Photographic

Support

Paper